Old Dhaka’s markets buzzing with shoppers

Solaiman Salman

28th June, 2016 01:29:18

Shopping malls, fashion outlets, makeshift footpath shops and wholesale markets in Old Dhaka are buzzing with shoppers as Eid shopping has started getting momentum ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims.

Although the prices are higher than last year, shopping centres, malls and footpath shops are pulling huge crowds ahead of the Eid festivity.

During visits to different shopping malls and makeshift shops in Old Dhaka on Sunday, the correspondent observed a huge rush of Eid shoppers purchasing their items of choice for near and dear ones.

Shopping rush was also seen at East Bengal Market, Sharif Market, Great Wall Market, Sadarghat Hawkers Market, Rupali Market, Nagar Siddique Plaza and Mollick Super Market in the Old town.
Lower-income people were thronging the Sadarghat Hawkers Market to buy different items as per their affordability.

Different types of sarees like Jamdani, Muslin Jamdani, Tant, Silk, Tangail Katan Silk, Appliqué, stitched and block printed ones have been put on sale at the markets in Old Dhaka’s Islampur area. Prices of salwar kameez, sarees, children’s and gents’ garment items were a bit higher this year, said the shoppers.

“I have come to Islampur from Mirpur to buy 15 pieces of sarees as Eid gifts for my relatives as the prices here are lower than the posh malls in the city,” a shopper told daily sun. Shop owners from different part of the country were also visiting the wholesale markets in Islampur to buy different garment items.

Alamgir Hossain, owner of a women’s clothing shop at Mohammadia Market, said “We are passing busy time since the beginning of Ramadan.”

Meanwhile, fashion houses in Wari of Old Dhaka, including some popular brands such as Aarong, Chaity, Nabarupa, Rex and Cat’s Eye have put in display a huge collection of fashionable clothing for men, women and children. Salespersons at the outlets said their sales were on the rise, and they were expecting a huge rush in the next two weeks ahead of Eid.

Besides, footpaths in Old Dhaka’s Sadargat, Laxmi Bazar, Johnson Road, Nayabazar, Dholaikhal and Sutrapur have become packed with makeshift shops targeting the lower-income group during the Eid shopping bonanza.